Preliminary approval pleases some, but battles still possible

May 21, 2005|by GREGORY T. SIMMONS

HAGERSTOWN - While local officials happily greeted Friday's news that plans to move Washington County Hospital were granted preliminary approval, the action also takes local agencies one step closer to what could be another thorny political battle over hospital plans.

James Hamill, president and CEO of Washington County Health System, which owns and operates the hospital, said he was pleased.

"I see this as a home run," Hamill said Friday afternoon, shortly after the recommendation was released. "I don't think it leaves any doubt what the correct course of action is."

City Councilman Lewis C. Metzner also said the recommendation is a good one.

"I'm thrilled," Metzner said. "We need a new hospital desperately."

"We're just excited that this is completed and done," said Richard F. Trump, Hagerstown mayor-elect.

But how long the happy feelings last likely will be determined in the coming weeks, when officials begin discussing difficult political and administrative problems revolving around the hospital.

If the Maryland Health Care Commission accepts the staff recommendation and approves the hospital's plans at its June 16 meeting, hospital officials immediately face more steps that likely will require agreements between hospital, city, county and possibly state officials.

The planned site is just outside city limits, and will use the county and state road network - mainly Robinwood Drive and U.S. 40 - for access, and the city's water and sewer system.

Sewer service could be particularly problematic, Metzner said. The Maryland Department of the Environment recently placed conditions on the city that limit the amount of sewer service the city can extend.

Another potentially problematic process for the hospital is to gain zoning approvals, which include a special exception and some variances. At this point, there is some disagreement between Hamill and at least one councilman over how it should be done.

Hamill said he would like to see the water and sewer plan that city and hospital officials developed more than one year ago be put into place, which will pave the way to get the zoning approvals.

Metzner said the zoning approvals should be taken care of first.

Officials also will have to weigh the costs and benefits of annexing the hospital site. Under city policy, hospital officials would have to agree to have the site annexed, but the city could opt out.

Trump, who campaigned on his support of the hospital move to Robinwood, said to expect discussions once the new administration takes office.

"We're gonna look at it in a fresh, new way," Trump said. "The council wants a new medical facility ... it's just working through it."

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